Golf practice device

ABSTRACT

A tee for practicing golf shots indoors comprising a vertically adjustable stand, a flexible material extending from one side edge of the stand to the opposite side edge thereof, and a takeup device and clamp for holding the flexible material substantially taut, a practice golf ball being placeable anywhere on the surface of the flexible material. The tee is adapted to be raised to an elevated position and used with a golf club having a length of 15 to 18 inches so that full swings may be made indoors.

United States Patent [191 Landry GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE [76] Inventor: Charles A. J. Landry, Worcester,

Mass.

[22] Filed: Oct. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 298,671

[52] US. Cl. 273/198, 273/202, 273/195 B [51] Int. Cl. A63b 69/36, A63b 57/00 [58] Field of Search 273/183, 195, 196,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1968 Wariner 273/195 X l/1970 Mark l/l972 Smiley 273/195 A Oct. 16, 1973 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Charles R. Fay

[5 7] ABSTRACT A tee for practicing golf shots indoors comprising a vertically adjustable stand, a flexible material extending from one side edge of the stand to the opposite side edge thereof, and a take-up device and clamp for holding the flexible material substantially taut, a practice golf ball being placeable anywhere on the surface of the flexible material. The tee is adapted to be raised to an elevated position and used with a golf club having a length of 15 to 18 inches so that full swings may be made indoors.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patent Oct. 16, 1973 3,76,63

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There have been many golf practice devices in the nature of tees proposed and patented. These devices are relatively complicated and are more adapted for use outdoors or for actually driving golf balls. However there is a need for a practice device of this nature which is usable indoors during the winter months as for instance in a house or home. This involves several difficulties unless the golf practicer has in his home a room large enough for him to be able to take a full swing without striking walls or ceiling with his club. In addition it is also desirable to have such a device for use of the young as well as for adults.

To this end this invention has for its principal object the use of a golf tee which is adjustable in height for the purpose of utilizing a greatly shortened golf club in the nature of e.g., to 18 inches so that a full swing can be made at the ball without hitting the ceiling or walls, and this involves the use of a golf tee which must be elevated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An elevated vertically adjustable support is provided which in this case comprises a pair of crossed interpivoted legs with means to hold the same in angularly adjusted position so that the tops of the legs may be raised or lowered while the lower ends of the legs rest on the floor or rug. A carpet-like material providing some friction is arranged on the top ends of the legs and is adjustable lengthwise to accommodate the motion of the tops of the legs as they are pivoted relatively to each other to achieve the desired adjustment in height, and this material is secured firmly at the upper ends of one pair of legs and passes over a springy member at that end, then passing reversely over a springy member at the opposite end of the support, there being a takeup roll and a holding means at the latter end.

Each time the device is adjusted in height the length of the tee extending between the tops of the crossed legs has to be changed and this is quickly and easily done by releasing the clamp and merely turning a knob achieving the desired tautness of the tee material and then reclampingthe takeup roll on which the material is wound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation showing the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1 with the addition of a captive ball support.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In order to carry out the objects of the invention there is provided a pair of frames generally indicated at 10 and 12. These frames each comprise a pair of spaced legs and the frames are pivoted together where they cross on an axis at 14, as shown in FIG. 1. A clamping means of any kind indicated at 16 is used to hold the legs in the adjusted position desired and also braces l8, 18 may be utilized together with a slotted bar 20, the slotted bar 20 encompassing an axial threaded bolt 22 on which the knob 16 is threaded so that the parts are held in adjusted positions very firmly.

At the upper ends of legs 10, 10 there is provided a sheet of springy material indicated at 24. This may be of a desired kind of plastic but it is to be noted that it is secured to the legs as at 26 but is free thereof as at' 28 so that there is some give to the sheet of plastic material 24.

The tops of the legs 12 have a similar device 30 secured to legs 12 at 32 and free of the legs at 34.

A relatively heavy frictional carpet-like material 36 may be secured as at 38 with respect to the top ends of legs 10. This passes over the devices 24 and 30 and is wrapped up on a takeup shaft 38 and secured thereto, so that a knob 40 on shaft 38 may be used to take up the material 36. A clamping screw or the like 42 may be employed to hold the shaft 36 where desired so that the tautness of the material 36 is assured. The shaft 38 is journaled at one end in a box or the like 44 on one leg 12 and at the opposite end in a journal 46 on the other leg 12.

The ball is set as shown in FIG. 1 in any position on the broad surface of the adjustable tee. Using a club with a regular blade but with a short shaft in the region of 15 to 18 inches, the golfer may take a full swing at the elevated ball regardless of the small size of the room in which he may be practicing and if a soft or hollow plastic ball is used no damage can be done to the interior of the house.

Using the golf shaft mentioned, it will be found necessary to elevate the tee or depress it according to the size of the person doing the practicing so that if but one person practices one setting is sufficient, but if other people in the family or friends or youths of different heights desire to make use of the device, it must be correspondingly adjusted. The carpet-like tee material is adjustable as to its tautness, and it is used to provide some similarity to turf to simulate taking divots.

Also a guillotine type of support 48 may be mounted anywhere desired or on a separate support in the event it is not desired to actually hit the ball about the room, and to this may be added various known devices for indicating distance, slices, hooks, etc. The purpose of the members 24 and 30 is to provide for give to the carpetlike material when the same is taut as at times the clubhead will hit the tee material 36 with more pressure than at other times, and it is desired that this material shall give to simulate actual turf as much as possible. At the same time the members 24 and 30 provide for quick and easy take-up of the carpet-like material if the same are made of smooth springy metal or plastic sheet members.

I claim:

1. A golf practice device comprising a pair offrames, means interpivoting said frames to adjust upper edges of the same to and from a support, means providing a substantially continuous flexible tee material extending between the upper edge portions of the frames, said material being secured to one of the frames stretching across the device to the upper edge of the other frame, and means attached to the latter frame for taking up said material when the frames are adjusted.

2. The device of claim 1 where the tee material is of a heavy carpet-like nature.

3. The device of claim 1 including springy means at the upper edges of the frames supporting the carpetlike material, said means being secured to said frames and having portions which are free thereof over which the carpet-like material is trained.

4. The device of claim 1 including a lock for the takeup device holding the carpet-like material in position.

5. The device of claim 1 including means suspending a golf ball permanently in position on the tee surface. 

1. A golf practice device comprising a pair of frames, means interpivoting said frames to adjust upper edges of the same to and from a support, means providing a substantially continuous flexible tee material extending between the upper edge portions of the frames, said material being secured to one of the frames stretching across the device to the upper edge of the other frame, and means attached to the latter frame for taking up said material when the frames are adjusted.
 2. The device of claim 1 where the tee material is of a heavy carpet-like nature.
 3. The device of claim 1 including springy means at the upper edges of the frames supporting the carpet-like material, said means being secured to said frames and having portions which are free thereof over which the carpet-like material is trained.
 4. The device of claim 1 including a lock for the take-up device holding the carpet-like material in position.
 5. The device of claim 1 including means suspending a golf ball permanently in position on the tee surface. 